Man Pleads Not Guilty to Stalking Hilary Duff

TORRANCE, Calif. – A New York teenager pleaded not guilty Tuesday to stalking pop star Hilary Duff. Maksim Myaskovskiy, 18, was charged with the felony when he appeared in court, and his bail was raised to $1 million. A Nov. 22 hearing was set to determine whether enough evidence exists to order him to stand trial.

It was not immediately known whether Myaskovskiy had a lawyer.

Myaskovskiy was arrested Friday after he made several phone calls from a hotel room to a private security firm employed by Duff, Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Steve Tobias said.

An investigator with the firm told police Myaskovskiy threatened to harm Duff at an event she was scheduled to attend.

"He made physical threats against both Ms. Duff and her boyfriend," Tobias said.

Duff and her family sought an order of protection against Myaskovskiy on Oct. 12, alleging in court documents that he tried to contact her by visiting her neighborhood, the neighborhood of her boyfriend — Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden — and her mother's home.

Court documents said Myaskovskiy "admitted to being 'obsessed' with her, has stated his intention of purchasing a weapon, and has threatened to kill himself and to engage in dramatic actions to get her attention ... and that Joel Madden stands in their way."

Duff is best known for starring in the long-running Disney Channel show "Lizzie McGuire."